Mine sweeping cable



t D. LARKIN 1mm sIEEPIuG CABLE Filed Aug. 12, 1940 Patented Sept. 4, 1945 2,384,038 MINE. SWEEPING CABLE David. Larkiny- Kirkwood, Meg ass'ignor to Broderick &.Bascom Rope Company, St. Louis,

Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 12, 1940', Serial N .'352, 2s5 12 Claims. (01. 57+14s) My invention relates to cables and ropes and more particularly to wire cables or ropes adapted to be used for sweeping mines or for other similar purposes.

The principal objects of my invention are a mine sweeping cable or rope which has a larger cutting surface exposed than present way mine sweeping cable or ropes and consequently will be more efficient in cutting mine anchors or cables; which will be more durable and have a longer life than present day mine sweeping cables; and in which the tendency of the cable or rope to twist or unravel will be entirely eliminated or reduced to a minimum.

My invention consists principally in providing four cutting strands laid up spirally around a core I strand, alternate cutting strands having their lay in opposite directions. The invention further consists in the mine sweeping cableor rope and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to-like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a mine sweeping cable or rope embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cable shown in Fig. 1.

As illustrated in the drawing, my mine sweeping cable or rope I comprise four large cutting strands laid up spirally around a smaller core strand 2, cutting strands 3 alternating with cut ting strands 4 and having their lay opposite to the lay of said cutting strands 4.

The core strand 2 is preferably composed of seven wires 5 of substantially the same diameter laid up in the customary manner. However, this core strand 2 may be formed of fewer or more wires or of Wires of any suitable size or sizes, and if desirable, it may be made of hemp or of any other suitable material. The primary object of said core strand 2 is to serve as a support and as a filler for the four cutting strands 3 and 4 mounted spirally therearound but, if desirable the mine sweeping cable may be made without a core strand.

Cutting strands 3 and 4 have substantially the same diameter and are each preferably composed of seven wires. Each cutting strand is made up of a central core wire 6 and alternate cutting wires 1 and supporting wires 8 laid up spirally therearound. The cutting wires 1 are preferably of a larger. diameter than the core wire 6 and the supporting wires 8 are preferably of a smaller.

diameter. However, the wires forming the cutting strands 3 and 4 may be any suitable size or number and the core wires 6 thereof may be of hemp or other suitable material.

The hereinbefore described invention has numerous advantages ting strands 3 and 4,- each having large cutting wires 1 and small supporting wires 8, provides;

a large area of eilfective cutting surface, resulting in increased cutting efiiciency and longer cable life. By alternating the lay of cutting strands 3 and 4, the tendency of the cable to twist is neutralized, thereby minimizing or eliminating the tendency of the rope to knot or kink.

Obviously, numerous modifications may be made and I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What I claim is:

1. A mine sweeping cable comprising cutting strands laid up spirally, said cutting strands com therearound, said cutting strands comprising a core and alternate cutting and supporting wires mounted spirally therearound.

4. A mine sweeping cable comprising four cutting strands laid up spirally, said cutting strands comprising a core and alternate cutting and supporting wires mounted spirally therearound and alternate cutting strands being laid up in opposite directions. Y

5. A mine sweeping cable comprising a core strand and cutting strands laid up spirally therearound, said cutting strands comprising a core The use of four large cutcutting wires having a greater diameter than said supporting wires.

8. A mine sweeping cable comprising a core strand and cutting strands laid up spirally therearound, said cutting strand comprising a core and alternate cutting and supporting wires laid up spirally therearound, said cutting wires having a greater diameter than said supporting Wires.

9. A mine sweeping cable comprising a core strand and four cutting strands laid up spirally therearound, said cutting strands comprising a core and alternate cutting and supporting wires laid up spirally therearound, said cutting wires having a greater diameter than said supporting wires.

10. A mine sweeping cable comprising four cutting strands laid up spirally, said cutting strands comprising a core and alternate cutting and supporting wires laid up spirally therearound, said cutting wires having a greater diameter than said supporting wires and alternate cutting strands being laid up in opposite directions.

11. A mine sweeping cable comprising a core strand and cutting strands laid up spirally therearound, said cutting strands comprising a core and alternate cutting and supporting wires laid up spirally therearound, said cutting wires having a greater diameter than said supporting wires,

. and alternate cuttingstrands being laid up in 

